48 research outputs found
The transport and fate of fluoxetine hydrochloride, diazepam and their human metabolites in sewage sludge-amended soil
No full textThe European Union (EU) banned disposal of sewage sludge (SS) at sea in 1998. Since that time the application rate of SS to land has risen significantly and is set to rise further. Fifty-two percent of SS was disposed to land in the UK in 2000. Land application is thus possibly an important transport route for SS-associated organic chemicals into the environment. There are now over 3000 different pharmaceutical ingredients in use in the EU and the last decade has also seen an increase in reports of pharmacologically active compounds in the environment (e.g. in watercourses, open ocean, soil). Regardless of this there is still a significant lack of knowledge as regards the transport and fate of pharmaceuticals in the environment, particularly in soils. The present project therefore investigated the biotic fate of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), Prozac® (Fluoxetine HCI), and the 1,4-benzodiazepine, Valium® (Diazepam) and their major human metabolites Norfluoxetine HCI, Temazepam, Oxazepam and Nordiazepam in a UK SS-amended soil. Extraction techniques, such as solid phase extraction, for the analytes from a range of matrices (water, soil and plant material) were developed, which allowed subsequent analysis using developed high performance liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization - multistage mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS") techniques. Ratio calibration using deuterated internal standards allowed the generation of quantitative data. The pharmaceuticals were found to be resistant to biodegradation in both liquid culture studies (60 days), and even after prolonged exposure in SS-amended soil (>200 days; Fluoxetine HCI only). Oxazepam was the only 1,4- benzodiazepine studied which underwent biotic transformation(- 80%) in liquid culture studies. Evidence to support the theory that the transformation product seen was a 1,4- benzodiazepine tautomer, is presented. Results of what is believed to be one of the first examples of research into pharmaceutical uptake by plants are presented. In a preliminary tissue culture study the translocation of Fluoxetine HCI into Brassica stems (5% uptake) and leaves (3% uptake) confirmed that plant uptake of some pharmaceuticals may be a potential transport route in the environment. The stability of the pharmaceuticals under environmentally relevant conditions has implications for the consequent accumulation in SS-amended soils and possible subsequent uptake into plants grown on the soils.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council : AstraZeneca, Brixham Environmental LaboratoryGBUnited Kingdo
Evaluating the Mental Models Approach to Developing a Risk Communication: A Scoping Review of the Evidence
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this recordRisk communication is fundamental in ensuring people are equipped with the knowledge needed to navigate varied risks. One generally well-regarded framework for the development of such communications is the mental models approach to risk communication (MMARC). Developed during the 1990s, the MMARC has been applied to a range of health, technological, and environmental risks. However, as yet, we know of no attempt to collate and review articles that evaluated communications developed using the MMARC. This article took a first step at addressing this gap by conducting a scoping review that aimed to begin to explore the fidelity with which the approach has been applied, explore whether there appeared to be sufficient studies to warrant a future systematic review, and identify future research questions. Although the initial search found over 100 articles explicitly applying the MMARC, only 12 of these developed a risk-related communication that was tested against a control (and thus included in the current review). All studies reported a positive effect of the MMARC versus control communication for at least some of the outcome measures (knowledge being the most prevalent). However, there was wide variation between studies including type of control, outcomes assessed, and only five studies reported adopting a randomized design. The review highlights both the need for greater fidelity in the way future studies operationalize the MMARC approach, and suggests that a full-scale systematic review of the MMARC literature appears justified, especially given the possibility of a large gray literature in this area.This was part of a PhD project funded by the European Social Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The European Centre for Environment and Human Health (part of the University of Exeter Medical School) is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013 and European Social Fund Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
‘Neighbourhood is if they come out and talk to you’: Neighbourly connections and bonding social capital
No full text© The Author(s) 2017. Neighbourly relations have been theorised as ‘friendly distance’ in contrast to connections which are theorised as strong or intensive ties. The article explores the neighbourly relationships between residents of a peri-urban regional area outside Sydney in Australia. Strong interview themes emerged regarding the ways in which residents who were well connected within their locality talked about their neighbours, and this was in direct contrast to those living with a chronic condition – these people expressed a lack of connection with their neighbours. The major theme, ‘not in each other’s pockets’ reflects the negotiated nature of neighbour interactions, while the theme ‘neighbourhood is if they come out and talk to you’ speaks of isolation. The interactions of neighbours may in many cases constitute bonding capital as important weak or casual ties. These may not be available to the chronically ill or socially isolated or adequate without linking and bridging capital
Telling Our Stories: Book Two
No full textCollection of stories by forty local writers describing family histories and anecdotes in the Grayson County, Texas area. Each story is preceded by a brief biographical sketch of the author
First development and characterisation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the emerging fresh water toxin cylindrospermopsin
No full textAs increasing incidences in the occurrence of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) appear, in addition to further research on its toxicological nature, improved rapid methods to detect this toxin are required. Antibody based assays are renowned for their ability to provide rapid, portable, simple to use tests. As yet however there are no publications outlining how an antibody to CYN can be produced. A range of chemical approaches was investigated to synthesise CYN immunogens for antibody production but failed to generate a response. Finally, a modified Mannich reaction for immunogen synthesis was employed to couple the toxin to two carrier proteins. Both protein conjugates were successfully used to raise both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies of high sensitivity to CYN. These antibodies were characterised employing competitive indirect ELISA and an optical biosensor assay. By ELISA the sensitivity achieved ranged from 27 to 131. pg/mL and by SPR 4.4 to 11.1. ng/mL thus demonstrating that the selection of immunoassay platform is important for the detection level required by the end user for their application. Low cross-reactivity to the much less toxic metabolite deoxyCYN was observed. This is the first reported production of antibodies to this toxin
Uptake of the pharmaceutical Fluoxetine Hydrochloride from growth medium by Brassicaceae
No full textQualitative study of the clinician–parent interface in discussing prognosis following MRI and US imaging of preterm infants in the UK
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Health services research
Research
Qualitative study of the clinician–parent interface in discussing prognosis following MRI and US imaging of preterm infants in the UK
M E Harvey1,2,3, M E Redshaw2 On behalf of the ePrime Research Group
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Abstract
Objective To explore communication and interaction between parents and clinicians following neonatal ultrasound (US) and MRI of the brain of babies born preterm.
Setting This qualitative study was undertaken as part of a larger UK study of neonatal brain imaging. 511 infants were cared for in 14 London neonatal units with MR and cerebral US imaging in a specialist centre.
Participants Parents with infants born at <33 weeks gestation were randomised to receive prognostic information based on either MRI or US findings on their infants at term-corrected age.
Methods Discussions between parents and clinicians about the MRI or US result were audio recorded. Parents were told about the findings and their baby's predicted outcome. A topic guide ensured essential aspects were covered. Recordings were fully transcribed. Discussion of the scan results, the content and style of the interaction and parental response were analysed qualitatively in 36 recordings using NVivo V.10.
Outcomes Key themes and subthemes were identified in the clinician–parent discussions.
Results The overarching theme of ‘the communication interface’ was identified with three key themes: ‘giving information’, ‘managing the conversation’ and ‘getting it right’ and further subthemes. A range of approaches were used to facilitate parental understanding and engagement. There were differences in the exchanges when information about an abnormal scan was given. The overall structure of the discussions was largely similar, though the language used varied. In all of the discussions, the clinicians talked more than the parents.
Conclusions The discussions represent a difficult situation in which the challenge is to give and receive complex prognostic information in the context of considerable uncertainty. The study highlights the importance of being able to re-visit specific issues and any potential areas of misunderstanding, of making time to talk to parents appreciating their perspective and level of knowledge
The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI)
No full text© 2017 The Author(s). Background: The current study sought to develop a short birth satisfaction indicator utilising items from the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) for use as a brief measure of birth satisfaction and as a possible key performance indicator for perinatal service delivery evaluation. Building on the recently developed BSS-R, the study aimed to develop a simplified version of the instrument to assess birth satisfaction easily that could work as a short evaluative measure of clinical service delivery for labour and birth that is consistent with policy documents, placing women at the centre of the birth experience. Methods: The six item Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI) was embedded within the 2014 National Maternity Survey for England. A random selection of mothers who had given birth in a two week period in England were surveyed three months after the birth. Using a two-stage design and split-half dataset, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, convergent, divergent and known-groups discriminant validity evaluation were conducted in a secondary analysis of the survey data. Results: Using this large population based survey of recent mothers the short revised measure was found to comprise two distinct domains of birth satisfaction, 'stress and emotional response to labour and birth' and 'quality of care'. The psychometric qualities of the tool were robust as were the indices of validity and reliability evaluated. Conclusion: The BSS-RI represents a short easily administered and scored measure of women's satisfaction with care and the experience of labou r and birth. The instrument is potentially useful for researchers, service evaluation and policy makers
